Over Expression of the Fatty Acid Synthase Is a Strong Predictor of Poor Prognosis and Contributes to Glucocorticoid Resistance in B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Evolution of multiagent chemotherapy and independent risk factors have improved survival rates approximately 80% in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Although, 20-30% of patients will be relapsed within the treatment process1. Outcome assessment based on risk factors could remarkably help to prevent relapse at this malignancy2. Hence, ALL patients based on risk factors such as age, white blood cell count, cytogenetic abnormalities, response to glucocorticoids and PCR-based and flow cytometric MRD (minimal residual disease) are divided into highrisk and low-risk groups3. Response to glucocorticoids is considered as a strongest independent factor in predicting ALL patient outcome4. Therefore, identification of glucocorticoid resistance markers is the beneficial tools for improvement of prognostic and diagnostic strategies in this malignancy.